Metal wheel spoke



J. R. WELCH METAL WHEEL sPoKE Filed oct. 3Q. 1922 Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

a LJN-irse FSTATES PATENT oFFIcs. f

JOHN n. WELCH, on MUNeIn, iNDIANA; viene vivi. wanen, nxnonraix oFfrHnEsrA'rE or sain JOHN n. WELCH, recenser, AssieNon INDIANA.

METAL WHEEL SPOKE.`

` Application filed ctober 30, 1922. Serial No, 597,740.

To @ZZ wzom t may concern.'

Be it known thatI, Jol-'IN RL l/VnLci-i, a citizen of the United States, residing at Muncie, in -the county of Delaware and .State of Indiana,have invented a new and struction as to be adapted to be used instead of a wooden spoke in order to conserve avail# able supplies of timber. i y

Another object is to provide an improved hollow metal wheel spoke which shall be of light weight and yet strong,

and of suchform as to permit it to bereadily painted orf otherwise artistically finished. A further object is to provide animproved hollow metal wheel' spoke that shall be slightly elastic laterally and will not be liable to be injured in minor accidents nor to be destructibly damaged in serious accidents, but which shall'be reliable, durable and economical in use and be adaptedto be readily replaced by a new spoke in case of necessity, y

lVith`theabove-mentioned and other obv jectsV in view, vtherinvention consists in a novel hollow metal wheel spoke having an improved laminatedsector and also an im proved end for connection' witha wheel felly; and, the invention consists also further in the novel parts and features of construction, and in the combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter particularly described and further set forth in the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawings,-Figure 1 is a fragmentary front view of a vehicle wheel provided with the improved metal spokes; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section of the wheel, particularly one of the spokes shown in conncction with parts of the wheel in detail; Fig. 3 is a side view of a complete spoke on relates toA vehicle wheels andy whichA shall be of symmetrical and neat appearance an enlarged scale; Fig. l is a longitudinal* central sectionof the improved spoke partially broken away; Fig; 5k is an end view of the improved spoke, particularly `the endv of the sector portion thereof; F 6 is a side. view of the reinforcing laminating partof the sector portion ofthespoke; and,Fig., 7

is an end view of the laminating portion of the spokes, viewing the larger end tliereof.- In they various figures of the drawings` similar reference characters indicate corresponding elements or features of construc-. to more particution hereinafter referred larly in detail. V i A `portion of a `vehicle wheel is illustrated and briefly described as explanatory of the purpose vofthe improved spoke and;

TO VIOLA M. J'JEILGIE',I OF MUNCIE,

the practical application thereof, the wheel having a well knownV type of hub l which has a tapered spoke seat 2 and a flange 3 atthe larger end of the seat against which to clamp the spokes, byA meansofa collar 4f arranged at the smaller .end of theV spoke seat and having a fiange 5 thereon, a suitable nuinberof bolts 6 beingeonnected with the flangesto secure `the sector portion ofV the spokes to the hub.` The wheel has Va suitable felly 7 which has spoke sockets 8 therein and may have any suitable tire thereon which may be secured in place by means `of a ldemountable rim9.k

All` the spokesin a wheel` are alike, each spoke comprising a drawn seamless tubular metalbody portion 10, uniform in diameter having an annular` end portion 11 integral`v therewith adapted tobe seated `against a felly and from whichextends integrally -a hollow dowel 12 having a head portion 13 integral therewith, the dowelbeingadapted toibefinserted in a socket `8. Preferably the outer end` of the spoke is reinforced by means of a liner having a cylindrical main portion lfl-'pressed tightly into the body portion 10 to the fend 1l and from which extendsy a dowelportion 15 which integral therewith and seated against the head 13 and preferably has a stud 16 thereon which extends through a suitable hole in the head and is riveted over to hold the liner in place. The liner may be either solid or hollow as may be preferred. The spoke has two oppositely flared portions 17 and 18 extending integrally from the body portions, being seamless and the necessary sector portion of the spoke com- Cil prises two flat seamless sector plates 19 and 20 extending integrally from theends of the laredvporti'ons respectively and convergently,` each'plate relatively to the other, each sectorportion having Hat tapered seamless side plates 21 and 22 oppositely arranged and connected integrally with the body portion 10 and the plates 19 and 20. T heside plates 21 and 22 have tapered inwardly pressed reinforcing portions 23 and 24 respectively, kto constitute s'tiiening ribs on the -innerfside ofthe plates, and are vformed integrally of surplus metal of the plates when the other plates'19 and 2O are drawn inv each toward theother to form a tapered sector portion; Each'pla'te21 and 22 has a bolt `holef`25 therein approximately at the narrowerend of t-lie stifleniiig-rib'.

The laminating-part of the sector portion preferably is comp'osedof av` single sheet of metaland pressed toshape, or in some cases may be -composed of la piece" of 'tubing and pressed to the-desired shape, the part having-,two sector plates26and 27and also two side plates 28 and 29 integrally connected therewith and having--iiiwardlypressed ta. pered ribV portions 30 and'31- respectively, andfan end plate-32 integrally connected with-allftheplates and closing the smaller end of the" sector portion.` The laminating; part is' placed linV the partially formed sector 'portionfand thegplate's 19-and 2O are afterwards -drawn in vagainst the plates -26 and'27 and so as to constitute a wedge shapev sector portion.- LTheV plates 28 'and 29v have4 bolt kholes 35 and 35 to receive the clamp bolt 6 which, when'the spokes Vrare' seated on the hub,;eXtends through the-holes .25. lVhen the sector portion-is practically `com;-A

pletedythe ends'ofltlie plates 19 and-20pre`f erably are VVpressed `'over to constitute flips' 33 and 34 againsttheouter portion lofthe end plate 32. 'Theend plate 32 is slightly inclinedso as to vconform to the tapered* spoke seat-2 for forcing the'sp'olres against thefelly and insuring tightly fitting spokes.0

vIn practical use, the spokesbeing'seainless withoutV ribs in theirr body portions areY slightlyy elastic laterally an'd not liable to become. crackedfas -al result of 'vibrations inv operation of the-wheel, .and they .safely carry the load imposedfupon them; and being'L tightly assembled and firmly secured to the wheel hub and thereby forced tothefelly, the spokes are not liable -to become loose andnoisy" in mot-ion.

Having thus described thev invention,

what is claimed as new is 1. A metal wheel spoke including a tubular bodyportion and a transversely rectangularliollowsectorportion, each of two opposite sides of the sector portion having a longitudinal seamless tapered reinforcing rib integral :with the inner side thereof.`

2, A metal'wheel spoke including a hollow: body .portion #and 1a transversely rectangular hollow sector portion, each of two opposite sides of the sector portion beingV seamless and having a seamless r reinforcing rib pressedup and integral with the inner side thereof.i

3. Af metal wheel' spoke including' a hol'- i.

low'body portionfwith an end closureand a hollow`seamlesspl'ate sector portion vcomposed` of onepiece of drawn metal', the sector portion* being".y wedge-shaped, and av seamless laminating part composed'of'la separate piece 'of drawny metal and ysecured to the-sector 'portionofthesp'Oke, the ,sec`

tor portion.. and the laminatingipart having f' pressed-upribs.` n l 4. A'metal wheel spoke having a `hollow body portion and va hollow sector portion composed of one lpiece' of'drawn metal, two

yopposite'sidesof the sector portion-having i eachV al longitudinalribintegralwith the in-f ner yside thereof, 'ca'ch Erib having a groove in its outer side. Y

5. Ametal wheel spoliei including` ahol-v lowfb'odyportion, and a hollow sector poi'- tion having four 'scamless side vplates integ'rallyfconn'ected together, 'two'of the' plates extending convergently Vearch towards theother 'from'- thebody port ion,f'the remaining side'` plat-es l having! eachv a longitudinal pressed; up portion on `the *innerv side thereof.

6. A- metal wheelspoke'lincluding.al tu-A billar-body portion anda Vhollow sector portion and also a1 dowel composed of one piece*- JOHN` a. WELCH. i 

